Anyone use GIMP 2 for DDS editing?

[HankySpanky]

Could someone help me on this please...

When using RWTools or RSBinTool to convert a TgPcDx to DDS, the image I get in GIMP 2 is a checkerboard with the actual image barely visible underneath it. The preview box says that it is RGB-alpha 1-layer.

How do I get rid of the checkerboard and why is it there in the first place?

[dgallina]

Some Railworks assets have alpha layers to handle transparency or lighting effects.

You need to turn off that layer in the GIMP so that it doesn't get in your way. Don't modify or remove the alpha layer, however, as it is likely in the image for a reason.

Diego

[HankySpanky]

Okay, thanks.
In GIMP 2 I go to Layer, Transparency, Remove Alpha Channel.
That gets rid of the checkerboard and shows the image, but the image appears very faded, as if it was white-washed. Shouldn't it be an exact copy of the original?

[buzz456]

Are you using DXTBmp? Iff you take the DDS texture and open it with DXTBmp and then to Gimp it will separate the alpha channel out and you will have your nice original texture. You can export the alpha to somewhere and then put it back in when you save the bmp back to dds using the DXTBmp again.

[HankySpanky]

Okay - that works - Thanks.

One last question...
Why does everything have to be such a pain in the azz?

[buzz456]

If it was easy everyone would be doing it. After doing a few dozen re-paints I don't even think about it anymore, but it would be nice if one of our guys that actually understands all this stuff would make a one step conversion if that were possible.